One quiet night in Arizona, Meredith Warfel glanced into her backyard and spotted what she thought was a coyote curled up on her patio furniture. The animal had the right size, coloring, and a wild look about her — enough to convince anyone that a desert visitor had wandered too close.
But over the next several nights, the mysterious guest kept coming back. In fact, she made herself right at home, sleeping peacefully on the outdoor couch every evening.
That’s when Warfel started to have doubts.
“We realized pretty quickly that a coyote wouldn’t sleep on a couch,” she said in a YouTube video.
The animal, while timid, showed a gentle demeanor that seemed more dog than wild predator. Warfel posted photos to local social media pages asking if anyone recognized the “coyote.” Most people still insisted she was a wild animal, but Warfel trusted her instincts — this was a scared, sweet pup in need of help.
“She was so nervous, but we could tell she was the sweetest,” Warfel recalled.
No one came forward to claim the dog, leading Warfel to believe she had been abandoned, possibly left behind on a hiking trail nearby.
The poor pup had cactus spines lodged in her skin and was clearly malnourished — her body told the story of a tough time in the desert.
Warfel brought her to a local humane society, where staff confirmed the dog had no microchip. She stayed there for the required three-day hold, and during that time, Warfel and her family visited daily.
Though adopting a dog wasn’t in her original plans, Warfel couldn’t imagine letting her go. The dog had chosen her home as a sanctuary — and Warfel knew that meant something.
She officially adopted her and named her Luna, a nod to the night she first arrived under the moonlight.
Now, Luna is thriving as part of a big, loving household that includes children, four cats, and even a bearded dragon. She quickly adapted to family life — and has even declared herself one of the kids.
“She does think that she’s one of the kids, which she is,” Warfel said.
Luna loves to play Frisbee and swim — though, truthfully, she prefers lounging on a pool float to getting wet.
Looking back on that first unexpected visit, Warfel says she’s just thankful Luna chose her yard to rest.
“It was meant to be,” she said.
You can follow Luna’s journey and adorable updates on Warfel’s YouTube channel.
